National Security Strategy of the United States
Encyclopedia
The National Security Strategy is a document prepared periodically by the executive branch of the government of the United States
for Congress which outlines the major national security
concerns of the United States and how the administration plans to deal with them. The legal foundation for the document is spelled out in the Goldwater-Nichols Act
. The document is purposely general in content (contrast with the National Military Strategy
, NMS) and its implementation relies on elaborating guidance provided in supporting documents (including the NMS).
. “The most effective long-term measure for conflict and resolution is the promotion of democracy and economic development." In order to promote democracy and economic development communication with the civilian population of the host-nation is essential. The Stability Operations Field Manual
states that success depends on a U.S. ability to build local institutions and in the establishment of a legitimate permanent government, which builds trust between the citizens and the counterinsurgency personnel." The National Security Strategy establishes the interagency coordination in order to conduct useful public diplomacy to secure the population in the countries of Afghanistan and Iraq.
which is contained therein. It also contains the notion of military pre-eminence that was reflected in a Department of Defense
paper of 1992, "Defense Policy Guidance", prepared by two principal authors (Paul Wolfowitz
and I. Lewis Libby) working under then Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney
. The NSS 2002 also repeats and re-emphasizes past initiatives aimed at providing substantial foreign aid to countries that are moving towards Western-style democracy
, with the "ambitious and specific target" of "doubl[ing] the size of the world's poorest economies within a decade." [NSS 2002, p. 21].
The Bush doctrine emerges in the context of moving from the old Cold War
doctrine of deterrence
to a pro-active attempt to adjust policy to the realities of the current situation where the threat is just as likely to come from a terrorist
group such as al-Qaeda as from a nation state such as Iraq
or Iran
.
The document also treats AIDS
as a threat to national security, promising substantial efforts to combat its spread and devastating effects.
. The new Strategy was referred to by United Nations ambassador Susan Rice as a "dramatic departure" from its predecessor. The Strategy advocated increased engagement with Russia
, China
and India
. The Strategy also identified nuclear non-proliferation and climate change as priorities, while noting that the United States's security depended on reviving its economy. The drafters of the new Strategy made a conscious decision to remove terms such as "Islamic radicalism", instead speaking of terrorism generally.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for Congress which outlines the major national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
concerns of the United States and how the administration plans to deal with them. The legal foundation for the document is spelled out in the Goldwater-Nichols Act
Goldwater-Nichols Act
The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 , , made the most sweeping changes to the United States Department of Defense since the department was established in the National Security Act of 1947 by reworking the command structure of the United States military...
. The document is purposely general in content (contrast with the National Military Strategy
National Military Strategy
The National Military Strategy is issued by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a deliverable to the Secretary of Defense briefly outlining the strategic aims of the armed services...
, NMS) and its implementation relies on elaborating guidance provided in supporting documents (including the NMS).
Counterinsurgency Objective
In order to defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, according to the National Security Strategy of 2010, the United States needs to engage in a large amount of interagency cooperation and communication with the Muslim population in Afghanistan and throughout the world. The objective of the National Security Strategy is to create a stable situation for the world, including those countries struggling with insurgenciesInsurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
. “The most effective long-term measure for conflict and resolution is the promotion of democracy and economic development." In order to promote democracy and economic development communication with the civilian population of the host-nation is essential. The Stability Operations Field Manual
U.S. Army Field Manuals
U.S. Army Field Manuals are published by the United States Army's Army Publishing Directorate. As of 27 July 2007, some 542 field manuals were in use. They contain detailed information and how-tos for procedures important to soldiers serving in the field. They are usually available to the public at...
states that success depends on a U.S. ability to build local institutions and in the establishment of a legitimate permanent government, which builds trust between the citizens and the counterinsurgency personnel." The National Security Strategy establishes the interagency coordination in order to conduct useful public diplomacy to secure the population in the countries of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Previous National Security Strategies
The National Security Strategy issued on September 17, 2002 was released in the midst of controversy over the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive warBush Doctrine
The Bush Doctrine is a phrase used to describe various related foreign policy principles of former United States president George W. Bush. The phrase was first used by Charles Krauthammer in June 2001 to describe the Bush Administration's unilateral withdrawals from the ABM treaty and the Kyoto...
which is contained therein. It also contains the notion of military pre-eminence that was reflected in a Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
paper of 1992, "Defense Policy Guidance", prepared by two principal authors (Paul Wolfowitz
Paul Wolfowitz
Paul Dundes Wolfowitz is a former United States Ambassador to Indonesia, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, President of the World Bank, and former dean of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University...
and I. Lewis Libby) working under then Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
. The NSS 2002 also repeats and re-emphasizes past initiatives aimed at providing substantial foreign aid to countries that are moving towards Western-style democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, with the "ambitious and specific target" of "doubl[ing] the size of the world's poorest economies within a decade." [NSS 2002, p. 21].
The Bush doctrine emerges in the context of moving from the old Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
doctrine of deterrence
Mutual assured destruction
Mutual Assured Destruction, or mutually assured destruction , is a doctrine of military strategy and national security policy in which a full-scale use of high-yield weapons of mass destruction by two opposing sides would effectively result in the complete, utter and irrevocable annihilation of...
to a pro-active attempt to adjust policy to the realities of the current situation where the threat is just as likely to come from a terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
group such as al-Qaeda as from a nation state such as Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
or Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
The document also treats AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
as a threat to national security, promising substantial efforts to combat its spread and devastating effects.
The 2010 National Security Strategy
On May 26, 2010, the latest National Security Strategy was issued by President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. The new Strategy was referred to by United Nations ambassador Susan Rice as a "dramatic departure" from its predecessor. The Strategy advocated increased engagement with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The Strategy also identified nuclear non-proliferation and climate change as priorities, while noting that the United States's security depended on reviving its economy. The drafters of the new Strategy made a conscious decision to remove terms such as "Islamic radicalism", instead speaking of terrorism generally.
See also
- National Military Strategy (United States)
- Joint Planning DocumentJoint Planning DocumentThe Joint Planning Document, issued by the Joint Staff, generates specific programming recommendations for the Defense Planning Guidance and provides the first concrete basis for the National Military Strategy.-See also:* Joint Requirements Oversight Council...
- Joint Requirements Oversight CouncilJoint Requirements Oversight CouncilPart of the United States Department of Defense acquisition process, the Joint Requirements Oversight Council reviews programs designated as JROC interest and supports the acquisition review process in accordance with law...
External links
- The National Security Strategy of the United States of America (2006)
- The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2002
- U.S. House of Representatives bill (H.R. 282) to hold the current regime in Iran accountable for its threatening behavior and to support a transition to democracy in Iran.
- National Security Strategy 2010
- Stability Operations Field Manual FM 3-07 (2008)
In the media
- April 16, 2007, The CNA CorporationCenter for Naval AnalysesCNA's Center for Naval Analyses is a federally funded research and development center for the Navy and the Marine Corps. It also provides research and analysis services to other military and government agencies to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of U.S...
: National Security and the Threat of Climate Change